LAHORE, Jan 19: Speakers at a discussion titled ‘National Strategy for Peace’ have foreseen serious risks to the country’s security and stability in case the upcoming elections were not held on time.

Distinguished personalities from various walks of life including S.M. Zafar, Qayyum Nizami, Justice K.M. Samdani (retired), Altaf Hassan Qureshi, Salman Abid, Mrs Rehana, Col Z.I. Farrukh (retired) and Liaquat Baloch were speaking at the discussion organised by the Pakistan Institute of National Affairs (Pina) here on Saturday.

While winding up the discussion, S.M. Zafar said that peace and harmony in the country could only be restored by using the power of vote and providing an opportunity to the elected representatives of the people to implement their own policies.

He said that Nawaz Sharif was floating the proposal of ‘national government’ only because he and his brother were out of the polling process and they wanted finding out some way to enter power corridors.

Though the upcoming elections might not bring a ‘very much attractive’ leadership ahead, they could minimise the risks confronting the national integrity and lead the nation to achieve peace and harmony in days to come.

S.M.Zafar suggested parties like the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), who have boycotted elections, to review their decision and work for making the election process a success in the larger interest of the country.

He said that the people’s representatives should be given an opportunity to work for repairing the damaged society and taking steps like provision of justice to the judges so that the stagnation could be eradicated.

He praised the lawyers and civil society for continuing their struggle for restoration of democracy and justice and said that they have lit the ‘candle of hope’ for a better life of the nation.

Earlier, Justice Samdani emphasised on strengthening the role of civil administration over ‘uniformed’ one and other law-enforcement agencies to improve their efficiency and capacity to control law and order situation.

He said that army, police and other forces should work as obedient servant to their civil masters to strengthen the rule of the people and help eradicate increasing unrest in society.

Qayyum Nizami said that a new Election Commission should be formed to earn trust of all political parties. Nawaz Sharif, his brother and other political leaders and parties should be included in the election process, he added.

Nizami said that all political parties should take part in the elections and all political, social and economic injustices should be removed from society.

Liaquat Baloch said that the JI was of the considered opinion that the elections could not be held fair, free and impartial under the present regime.

He reiterated the JI’s demand to restore Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges, who did not take oath under the Nov 3’s Provisional Constitution Order, and hold free, fair and transparent elections under the new Election Commission.

Altaf Hassan Qureshi emphasised chalking out a national strategy based on viewpoint of cross section of society to lead the country on a path of development.

Salman Abid, a journalist and representative of civil society, said that comprehensive efforts should be launched to remove all types of internal and external interferences in political system of the country.

He said that people of the country have right to prepare their policies and programmes and no unauthorised person or institution should ‘trespass’ on civil liberties.

Mrs Rehana highlighted the increasing sense of insecurity in the country and said that the people who got martyrdom in different incidents of terror should be given due importance as each one of them was leader of a family. She said that flour crisis and other such issues should be resolved to provide peaceful atmosphere of living to people.

Col Farrukh (retired) said that sense of mistrust should be removed from society and steps should be taken to improve the system and not merely to replace the faces.—APP